Super A'Can

Super A'can
Manufacturer	Funtech
Type	Home video game console
Generation	Fourth generation
Release date	TW: October 25, 1995; CN: 1995;
Lifespan	1995–1996
Introductory price	NT$2,900
Discontinued	April 1996
Media	ROM cartridge
CPU	Motorola 68000
Memory	256 KiB (SRAM)
Display	TV using RF or composite video, 320×240 resolution, 256 out of 32,768 colors
Graphics	UMC UM6618, 128 KiB VRAM
Sound	UMC UM6619 (PCM, 16 channels, stereo)

The Super A'can is a home video game console released exclusively in Taiwan and People's Republic of China^[3] in 1995 by Funtech/Dunhuang Technology. It is based around the Motorola 68000 microchip, which is also used in the Sega Genesis and Neo Geo. Twelve games have been confirmed to exist for the system.

Commercial performance

The Super A'Can failed because its initial costs were too high for customers. It had no chance to compete with fifth generation video game consoles, such as the PlayStation, the Nintendo 64 and the Sega Saturn, all of which were more powerful and offered 3D graphics. The Super A'Can performed so poorly that it lost its company, Funtech, over USD $6 million. In the end, Funtech destroyed all equipment from production and development of the system, and sold off all remaining systems to the United States as scrap parts.^[4]

Technical specifications

The Super A'can uses a Motorola 68000 as its main processor.

CPU	Motorola 68000 clocked at 10.738635 MHz
Memory	256 KiB SRAM clocked at CPU speed
Graphics	UMC UM6618 with 128 KiB VRAM displaying 256 out of a possible 32,768 colors at 320×240 resolution. Max sprite size of 256×256. Supports zooming, rotating, and mosaic effects.
Audio	UMC UM6619 outputting stereo 16-track PCM
Cartridge	Max size of 112 Mib, with built-in SRAM of 16-64 kib
Control pad inputs	Two DE-9M (9-pin male D-connectors) on front of console, identical to those of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive (though not compatible with Genesis/Mega Drive control pads) Controller IC has identical timing to Super Nintendo/Super Famicom with the exception of the Select and Start are swapped.^[5]
A/V Output	RF, composite video/RCA audio. Later models removed the RF output to reduce costs.

Peripherals

A CD-ROM attachment (similar to Sega's Mega CD add-on), and a CPU/Graphics upgrade (similar to Sega's 32X add-on) were planned but unreleased.^[6]

List of games

Released

#	Serial number	Title	AKA title(s)	Developer(s)	Genre	Release year
1	F008	African Adventures	1) Fēizhōu Tànxiǎn 2) Monopoly: Adventure in Africa	Panda Entertainment	Puzzle	1995
2	F006	C.U.G.	1) Xī Yóujì 2) Journey to the Laugh	Funtech	Platform	1995
3	F001	Formosa Duel	Fú Ěr Mó Shā Dà Duìjué	AV Artisan	Puzzle	1995
4	F002	Sango Fighter	Sānguózhì Wǔjiàng Zhēngbà	Panda Entertainment	Fighting	1995
5	F003	The Son of Evil	Xié'è Zhīzǐ	Funtech	RPG	1995
6	F004	Speedy Dragon	1) Yīnsù Fēilóng 2) Sonic Dragon	AV Artisan	Platform	1995
7	F005	Super Taiwanese Baseball League	Chāojí Zhōnghuá Zhí Bàng Liánméng	Quan Wei Technology/C&E	Sports	1995
8	F011	Boom Zoo	1) Bào Bào Dòngwùyuán 2) Explosive Burst Zoo	Funtech	Action	1996
9	F009	Gambling Lord	Dǔ Bà	Panda Entertainment/Funtech	Mahjong	1996
10	F012	REBEL	1) Pàn Xīng 2) Rebel Star	Horng Shen Information Co., Ltd	RPG	1996
11	F007	Super Dragon Force	1) Chāojí Guāngmíng Zhàn Shǐ 2) Super Light Saga: Dragon Force	Kingformation Co., Ltd.	RPG	1996
12	F010	Magical Pool	Mó Bàng Zhuàngqiú	Funtech	Sports	1996

Unreleased

#	Title	AKA title(s)	Developer(s)	Genre	Notes
1	Journey to the Center of the Earth	地心歷險	Tai Ruan Technology	Action RPG	----
2	Cat Ball Defense Team	貓球防衛隊	AV Artisan	Shoot 'em up	----
3	Birdcage Yard	鳥籠院	Funtech	Action	----
4	Lightning Mobile Unit	雷霆機動隊	Fun Yours Entertainment	Shoot 'em up	----
5	Dinosaur War	恐龍戰記	Funtech	Simulation	----
6	A Q Lian Huan Pao	阿Q連環炮	C&E	ETC - Trivia/Game Show?	Later released on Sega Genesis
7	Romance of Bōsōzoku	暴走族之戀	Funtech	Single-player game	----
8	Woman Guerrillero	王八妹	AV Artisan	Shoot 'em up	----
9	Hero Saga	英雄戰記	Dynasty International Information Co.	RPG	----
10	Happy Zoo	快樂動物園	Stone General Computer	ETC	----
11	Demon Island	惡魔島	Jackbean Information Co.	Action	----

References

^ "Chuǎngguān zú bǐjì——diàn ruǎn zǒng dì 17 qī (1995 nián dì 12 qī)".
^ Amos, Evan (November 6, 2018). The Game Console: A Photographic History from Atari to Xbox. No Starch Press. ISBN 9781593277727 – via Google Books.
^ "Super A'Can". Game Software (21): 44–45.
^ "Fancy Owning the Rare Taiwanese Flop Super A'Can? Here's Your Chance". 12 September 2023.
^ "A'Can – RetroGaming At Cyberphreak.com". Retrieved 2021-07-22.
^ "Super A'Can by Funtech – The Video Game Kraken". Retrieved 21 May 2021.

A'can: An ill-fated console from Taiwan (English subtitled). YouTube. October 25, 2017.
PakuPakuStory Blog - Super A'can

External links

Fan site (via archive.org)
Video Game Console Library page
Super A'Can games playable for free in the browser at the Internet Archive Console Living Room

[1] "Chuǎngguān zú bǐjì——diàn ruǎn zǒng dì 17 qī (1995 nián dì 12 qī)".

[2] Amos, Evan (November 6, 2018). The Game Console: A Photographic History from Atari to Xbox. No Starch Press. ISBN 9781593277727 – via Google Books.

[3] "Super A'Can". Game Software (21): 44–45.

[4] "Fancy Owning the Rare Taiwanese Flop Super A'Can? Here's Your Chance". 12 September 2023.

[5] "A'Can – RetroGaming At Cyberphreak.com". Retrieved 2021-07-22.

[6] "Super A'Can by Funtech – The Video Game Kraken". Retrieved 21 May 2021.

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